NSW drought: To save the farm, flock must go

WHEN summer comes around, Bert and Liz Matthews won’t be feeding sheep. With a paltry 54mm rainfall so far this year, the couple have decided to quit their whole Merino flock rather than graze bare country near Hay, in southern NSW.

Out they go: Bert Matthews, of Hay, has decided to sell his Merino flock because of the drought. Picture: Dannika Bonser

WHEN summer comes around, Bert and Liz Matthews won’t be feeding sheep.

With a paltry 54mm rainfall so far this year, the couple have decided to quit their whole Merino flock rather than graze bare country near Hay, in southern NSW.

It’s a brave decision as the Bedarbigal Station flock, has been lovingly bred and classed by Bert for 35 years. But he’s more than comfortable with the decision.

“Our biggest asset is our land and I could see things getting pretty messy by Christmas if we didn’t get the stock off,” Bert said.

“You only have to drive around Victoria and see the crops are struggling and there are not many places where hay can be cut.

“I didn’t want the challenge of trying to find hay and grain or the cost.

“It’s a business decision and one that protects our asset.”

Bert Matthews in the shearing sheds. Picture: Dannika Bonser

The Matthews have fed through dry times before but saw the impacts on their land and did not want to tackle this again.

“They say you should learn by your mistakes and we don’t want to reduce our land to a desert,” Bert said.

He’s also encouraged to sell given the high returns for sheep and wool and the fact he can sell his sheep for a good return despite the dry conditions across much of eastern Australia.

It was the final shearing of the Bedarbigal flock last week and Bert said it was still a pleasure to class the wool and pull out the best lines knowing that the sheep would soon be gone.

The entire flock, which includes 2200 breeders, 1000 two-year-old classed ewes and 1000 Merino hoggets will be offered for sale on AuctionsPlus on August 28.

Bert said he would normally sell surplus sheep at this time of year, so it made sense to choose this time to sell.

Shearer Jack Landringham shears the last of the sheep at Bert Matthews' sheep station at Hay before the are sold. Picture: Dannika Bonser

He’s not exactly sure what he will do when it does rain but said there would be plenty of time over summer to think it through.

Ironically, he will also use that time to complete his list of “wet weather jobs”.

He anticipates some of his peers might be shocked by his decision but is comfortable he’s “doing what we need to do”.

“It really was a simple decision and we believe it will create more opportunities for us the other side of the rain,” Bert said.